Yes, you can legally possess and carry a gravity knife in Texas, because the law does not single them out as illegal. However, there are still rules about where you can carry them and what kind of knife qualifies as “location-restricted.” Let’s go through what that means, what the rules are, and what you should keep in mind.
Why the “yes” answer
Texas changed its knife laws significantly in recent years. The statute that once banned specific types of knives (based on blade shape or opening mechanism) was replaced by broader rules focused mainly on blade length and location of carry, rather than the mechanical action of the knife.
Because of that, a gravity knife (which opens by the force of gravity or flick of the wrist) is not explicitly prohibited in Texas law as a category. Many sources and knife-law summaries have concluded that they are legal for adults to carry.
How Texas law treats knives now
Here are the key points to understand:
- Under Texas House Bill 1935 (effective Sept. 1, 2017) Texas removed the “illegal knife” category and allowed most knives, including large blades, to be legally carried.
- Texas law now uses the term “location-restricted knife” to mean a knife with a blade over 5½ inches.
- For knives under or equal to 5½ inches in blade length, the law treats them simply as “knife”, largely without special carry restrictions tied to blade mechanism.
- Even for location-restricted knives (blade over 5½″), you cannot carry them in certain places: schools, polling places, courthouses, secure airport areas, etc.
What “carrying a gravity knife” means in practice
Since the law does not ban the mechanism, you should still pay attention to these practical issues:
- If your gravity knife has a blade length over 5½ inches, it becomes a “location-restricted knife.” That means: you can still possess it, but you must avoid the restricted places mentioned above.
- If your gravity knife has a blade under or equal to 5½ inches, you’ll have fewer restrictions from the state law so far.
- Local city or county ordinances may still impose additional restrictions (though Texas has state-wide preemption when it comes to knives in many cases).
- Even though possession and carry are allowed, using a knife in a way that constitutes a crime (assault, threat, etc.) is obviously still illegal.
- If you’re carrying in a place where weapons are prohibited (schools, certain government buildings), you can still get in trouble.
Things to keep in mind
- Always measure your blade length carefully. Texas uses the straight‐line measurement from the tip of the blade to the forward-most aspect of the handle.
- Even though the “opening mechanism” (gravity, spring, manual) doesn’t automatically make it illegal in Texas, it may attract more scrutiny from law enforcement or local jurisdictions.
- If you’re traveling or carrying in different states, remember: what’s legal in Texas may be illegal elsewhere. For example, some states still ban gravity knives outright.
- If you’re under 18, different rules apply regarding “location-restricted knives.” In Texas a minor cannot carry a knife over 5½″ unless under certain exceptions (on their own property, supervised by a guardian, etc.).
- Possession in restricted locations (schools, polling places, etc.) is a common pitfall even for otherwise legal knives.
- If you intend to carry concealed (even though Texas has liberal rules for knives), you should consider: how it is carried, how accessible, local signage, etc. Even legal carry is not an absolute shield if you violate other laws.
Final word
Yes, you can legally carry a gravity knife in Texas, because Texas law does not ban that type of mechanism. But—and it’s a big but—you must still follow the rules about blade length, restricted locations, and general weapon-carry laws. If you carry one responsibly, for lawful purposes, and avoid the no-go zones (schools, etc.), you’re probably fine under state law.
